I spent a lot of time over the last few years going back and forth to California. I had been a lot as a kid. I had family in San Diego and Pasadena. It was always part of my childhood, but in the last few years I’ve been going a lot partly for work but also a lot of friends, and California just has a vibe that’s really interesting. The air smells different, and the nature smells different, and I had all these fantasies about California in the late '60s—the amazing rock climbing communities, the camp fires, the incense and patchoulis, really everything tied to hippie culture.
— Ben Gorham on the inspiration for Byredo Velvet Haze. Read more at Inside the Making of an Ageless Fragrance, Fit for Coachella Goers and Grandmothers Alike at W.
His 49th fragrance? I have only smelled a handful.
And, as always, I have to put down Gorham and/or the way he’s portrayed. He’s not a nose, he’s a marketer, although he’s obviously quite a good one.
I’m not in love with patchouli, but I’ll give Velvet Haze a try. I get my hippy patch kick from Lush Karma.
It’s a crazy pace of releases.
Ludicrous that they suggest he was at the forefront of unisex fragrances, too.
I thought Velvet Haze was rather meh, didn’t really get a patchouli vibe. Will try it again but so far underwhelmed.
Good to know, thanks!